When Shah Rukh Khan first announced that King would release on December 24, fans immediately thought that he was in big trouble. Everyone has been eyeing the film's release because of the hype around it and its potential to be SRK's next big hit.
However, its release date came with a big problem.
Mere days before King, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part 3 are going to be released on December 18. They are not only big films, but also some of the most anticipated projects of the year. The international appeal is just as big as the domestic appeal. However, the actor doesn't seem to be worried about it.
Shah Rukh Khan isn't Scared of Avengers: Doomsday
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People had begun to wonder whether or not King could perform well at the box office because of Dunesday. Speaking with News18, Trade Analyst Taran Adarsh talked about how Shah Rukh Khan might not be afraid of the two upcoming films. Although the fanbase for the Russo Brothers' and Denis Villeneuve's upcoming movie is massive, the King of Bollywood has his own fair share of people to count on.
"Those are Hollywood films. You know, in our country, the desi star is Shah Rukh Khan. And he's actually the king of the box office, going by the numbers and his success ratio. So, having said that, I feel the kind of business his films will do, whether they open on Diwali or Eid, like Chennai Express did, or even Christmas, will be fantastic, irrespective of the opposition."
He added, "So I guess it's not really going to be affected. I mean, if there was a big clash like it happened with Dunki and Salaar, then it could have been a problem. But now, I don't think there is any other Hindi film clashing with King."
Vishek Chauhan further added, "Yes, Avengers can potentially challenge and sustain itself in premium, bigger screens and pose some competition for King in top-tier markets. But a one-week full run for Avengers everywhere will be enough, because what we've seen is that films like Avengers are very front-loaded. They don't have long tails in India; they don't operate like an Oppenheimer."
He continued, "As far as King is concerned, Shah Rukh Khan is probably at the peak of his popularity right now. Coming together with Siddharth Anand, Deepika Padukone, and his daughter, King will have a different kind of aura and buzz. Yes, King might not get some of the biggest premium IMAX screens in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, but it has the entire country."
"There is a huge audience for Dune, a humongous audience for Avengers, and an even bigger audience for King. So the desire to watch all three films is very high."
All three films have a huge scope in India, but neither could compete with each other domestically. Or at least, King will be left out and have its separate growth, considering just how big Shah Rukh Khan really is in India.